The anorexia nervosa is a disease belonging to the group of eating disorders and it is based on psychological alterations. It is characterized by the refusal to maintain the body weight equal to or above the normal minimum value, alteration in the perception of body weight and denial of the danger involved being underweight, fear of becoming obese (even being under the weight considered normal) and presence of amenorrhea in women (absence of the menstruation).
In 80% of cases, anorexia nervosa start with a diet to lose weight and because on many occasions it is not achieved, being able to lose weight becomes the main objective of the person who suffers from it. This type of disorder occurs in a much higher proportion in women and in most cases it usually begins in adolescence. The age range has varied over time, the risk range currently being between 10 and 24 years.
In this Psychology-Online article we will reflect in depth on the Anorexia nervosa: causes, symptoms and treatment.
There are a series of signs and symptoms that may indicate that a person suffers from this disorder, however the final diagnosis has to be made by a professional. Between the
Physical symptoms
- Excessive weight loss
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation)
- Cold intolerance
- Constipation
- Beautiful fluff in different areas of the body
- Onset of osteoporosis
- Dizziness
Emotional and behavioral symptoms
- Severe body image disorder
- Sexual disinterest
- Alexithymia (difficulty being aware of your feelings and internal states)
- Social withdrawal
- Irritability
- Terror of gaining weight
- Concentration difficulty
- Depressive and / or obsessive symptoms
- Denial of hunger
- Total or partial denial of the disease
- Ability to exercise the will to control the desire to eat
It should not be confused with bulimia nervosa since they are different diseases.
The exact cause of anorexia nervosa is unknown.However, some research suggests that it is due to a combination of various factors, such as sociocultural, psychological and certain biological factors. All these factors have to be in constant interaction.
Sociocultural factors
A society in which the image is worshiped and associates thinness with physical beauty, can generate a great influence on people, especially women. Many adolescents try to adapt to these canons of beauty, which together with the experimentation of some changes in the body that appear during the puberty stage, makes them even more conducive to presenting this type of disorders. The advertising and the media They are one of the main promoters of the value of thinness.
It is important to also consider the environment in which the person is, since for example, there are some professions and sports that encourage leanness, including athletics, dance, rhythmic gymnastics, catwalk, etc. All of this can cause strong pressure in the person leading him to feel great dissatisfaction with his body image.
Psychological factors
It is proven that people with certain personality traits are more likely to develop this type of disease. Some traits like those of shyness, low self-esteem, obsessive compulsive behavior, depressive traits, perfectionism, and rigidity are related to increased risk.
It has also been found that, within the Family nucleus, there are certain characteristics such as overprotection, lack of resolution skills problems and excessive stiffness on the part of parents can influence the appearance of this disease. There is an association between eating disorders and some eating disorders. anxiety and mood such as obsessive compulsive disorder and depressive disorder higher.
Biological factors
The hypothesis is maintained that there is an alteration in the functioning of some brain areas such as in the hypothalamus-pituitary, although most are probably caused by alterations secondary to malnutrition.
The serotonin is a neurotransmitter which among many of its functions is also responsible for modulating the feeling of satiety. Serotonin levels in patients with eating disorders have been shown to and its metabolite (5-hydroxyindole acetic acid) are decreased and normalize after recovery of weight.
The consequences of this type of condition can be extremely serious for health leading to irreversible effects on the affected person and can even cause death. It is important to take into account that the consequences that occur are greater the more advanced the disease is. And they are caused by the distortion of body image and excessive weight loss that causes progressive malnutrition.
All this is having repercussions on the person on a physical, psychological and social level. Some of these repercussions are as follows:
Physical consequences
- Gastrointestinal disorders: Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, inability to digest food and take advantage of nutrients, etc.
- Cardiovascular disorders: Lowers blood pressure and heart rate, which can have consequences such as arrhythmias and dizziness as well as other more serious such as cardiac arrest and even death.
- Anemia: Caused by poor diet, lack of iron and folic acid.
- Renal problems: The risk of kidney infection is increased due to dehydration and lack of vitamins.
Social and psychological consequences
- Isolation: The person who suffers from this disease is more likely to withdraw from social contact because the physical and psychological problems that he suffers directly affect her mood. All this causes over time a deterioration in social relationships.
- School and work problems: There is a decrease in school and / or work performance due to lack of concentration caused by malnutrition and other related factors.
- Depression: Depression can be a risk factor for the onset of anorexia or a consequence of it.
- Sleep disorders: There are alterations and decrease in the hours of sleep.
- Low self-esteem: The person has problems of low self-esteem since before the onset of anorexia nervosa. However, with the passage of time this problem increases.
Other consequences:
- Hair loss
- Dry, rough, brittle and cold skin, especially hands and feet
- Amenorrhea
- Growth stunting
- Decreased sex drive
- Low body temperature
Treatment for anorexia nervosa requires a comprehensive plan where professionals from different disciplines have to intervene. The goal of treatment is return the person to a healthy weight, correcting the malnutrition they present and treating their emotional problems.
Treatment generally involves a combination of the following strategies:
- Psychotherapy: It is necessary for the patient to start a psychological treatment. The therapy that has shown the best results is Cognitive Behavioral, whose main objective is to ensure that the patient develops healthy attitudes towards food and body weight, by modifying inappropriate beliefs and thoughts for more assertive and adaptive.
- Medication: Generally, depending on the situation of each patient, drugs are prescribed antidepressants to help control depression and anxiety that are associated with this type of disorders.
- Nutrition and health care: It is necessary for the person to receive a diet, depending on their individual situation and to start a healthy and balanced diet. As well as that you take a timely follow-up with your family doctor.
- Hospitalization: Depending on the circumstances in which the person is and how advanced they have this disease, you need to be hospitalized to treat malnutrition and other serious physical health complications and mental.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Anorexia nervosa: causes, symptoms and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.
